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Press release

Christmas Bonus and Double Child Benefit payments to be paid this week

  • Christmas Bonus to be paid to over 1.38 million people
  • 676,000 families to receive double Child Benefit payments tomorrow
  • payments totalling over €535 million to support people with the cost of living

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has today announced the details for the lump sum social welfare payments that are being paid this week.

Over 1.38 million people will receive the Christmas Bonus payment this week.

The Christmas Bonus provides a 100% increase in the weekly rate of payment for eligible recipients including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents.

People will receive the Christmas Bonus in addition to and on the same day that they normally receive their primary payment.

Furthermore, on Tuesday 3 December 2024, 676,000 families, in respect of over 1.27 million children, will receive a double Child Benefit payment.

Announcing the payment details, Minister Humphreys commented:

“This week, we are rolling out more lump sum payments that I secured as part of Budget 2025.

“Throughout the week some 1.4 million people will receive the Christmas Bonus payment. This will support people up and down the country including pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families.

“In addition to the Christmas Bonus, on Tuesday we will have the second of our double Child Benefit payments that will support over 1.27 million children across the State. This means that families will receive payments of €280 per child tomorrow.

“These payments mean people will have extra money in their pockets in the run up to Christmas, which will ease the pressure that many households are facing.”

Both the Christmas Bonus and Double Child Benefit payments are paid automatically, people do not need to apply.

The full list of Budget 2025 Social Protection measures is available at gov.ie/DSPbudget2025.

Notes

Child Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 for each child. The payment for November and December has been doubled to €280 for each child.

Child Benefit is paid to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years.

The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 19th birthday if they are in full-time education or have a disability.

County breakdown of Child Benefit recipients

County Number of families Number of children
Carlow 9,283 17,341
Cavan 11,232 22,281
Clare 15,432 29,780
Cork 75,270 142,722
Donegal 22,257 43,740
Dublin 178,897 324,064
Galway 35,198 68,193
Kerry 19,682 36,789
Kildare 37,456 69,405
Kilkenny 12,174 23,632
Laois 12,392 24,000
Leitrim 4,591 9,198
Limerick 27,612 52,453
Longford 6,305 12,484
Louth 21,933 41,046
Mayo 17,374 34,123
Meath 32,249 61,090
Monaghan 8,746 18,031
Offaly 11,106 21,270
Roscommon 8,561 17,027
Sligo 8,776 17,070
Tipperary 22,633 43,677
Waterford 17,562 32,982
Westmeath 14,093 26,807
Wexford 22,948 42,870
Wicklow 22,481 41,533

Christmas Bonus

The Christmas Bonus will be paid this week. Over 1.38 million people will benefit, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents. Recipients of Illness Benefit for longer than 12 months will also receive the bonus, as they have done in recent years.

County Breakdown of Christmas Bonus recipients

County Approximate number of recipients
Carlow 18,900
Cavan 21,300
Clare 35,200
Cork 151,000
Donegal 51,300
Dublin 325,200
Galway 67,900
Kerry 47,000
Kildare 52,600
Kilkenny 27,100
Laois 22,900
Leitrim 11,200
Limerick 60,900
Longford 13,800
Louth 38,400
Mayo 42,200
Meath 47,000
Monaghan 17,300
Offaly 23,800
Roscommon 20,900
Sligo 20,700
Tipperary 51,600
Waterford 36,600
Westmeath 26,900
Wexford 49,000
Wicklow 39,200

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